A recent work trip took us to County Cork where we stumbled across this gem of a manor house you can stay in! Thomas really is an expert at finding romantic, quirky getaway locations and Glenville Park was a rustic dream. I didn't get any pictures in the sprawling garden, but I did take a few pictures in our beautiful toile wallpapered room and the manor house's cozy library filled with vintage books. This manor house is listed in airbnb and it's super affordable if you're looking for a romantic, laidback getaway in the region. It's a perfect spot to explore around Cork which is a really beautiful region full of castles, formal gardens, epic hikes, etc. We haven't been able to travel around Ireland much in the last couple of years due to restrictions so I'm hoping we can book another trip to stay in this lovely manor house again soon. I brought my favorite summer dress on this trip: the Thimbleweed I designed with Nour & the Merchant. This is the last month you can shop my limited capsule collection! I'll be sad to see these pieces go, but I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to design them with Cristina. The Thimbleweed specifically was born of my love for long linen dresses but my desire for a flattering silhouette that I never saw in the stores. I feel like linen dresses are often cut very loose or if they're more fitted they feature buttons...I have a love/hate relationship with button-up dresses. I love them, but I also dislike how they gap if the fit isn't perfect and they all feature very high necklines. I wanted a linen dress that was fitted on top, a full skirt, and a scoop neck (plus puff sleeves!) and Cristina did a wonderful job making this piece come to life. As we worked on it more we added more personal details; the ruffle about the sleeves the echo the sepals of a flower, the optional embroidery with different animals and plants, etc. And we expanded the option from one white linen fabric to a huge array of colors, even some darker tones appropriate for autumn. It's honestly such a dream dress for any linen lover who also wants something romantic with a more open neckline and in their favorite color. P.S. There are only four sizes available of this dress listed on Nour & the Merchant, but for a small fee Cristina also offers custom sizing and you can make a number of custom changes if you want as well--like a shorter or longer skirt! So this, and the rest of my collection, can be made in any size you need. Every dress is made when you place your order at her atelier in Italy using sustainable materials from a team earning a living wage too.    One of my favorite rooms in Glenville Park was the library. Towering wooden shelves full of leatherbound tomes and some real vintage gems. There were cozy seats for lounging in and even a less cottagecore-y pingpong table in the adjoining room! This settee was so comfortable; it was like sinking into a warm hug at the end of the day and we loved the views from the window. All of the toile wallpaper pictures were taken in the room we stayed in and I'd recommend asking for that room specifically because it was delightful. One of the things I love about staying in manor houses like this one is all the quirky architectural details. They don't make houses with this many interesting features anymore and when a house is this old as well it has a collection of antique bits and bobs stored in little corners that are fun to discover. It's an old house so that comes with quirks--a dramatic entryway, enormous windows, but also spotty wifi, creaky stairs, the occasional stubborn lock! Personally we love staying in a place with charm and soul, so we would book this house again in a heartbeat. The host was also very friendly and gave us so much free range to explore the house and grounds. When we were out walking in the garden we didn't see another soul so it truly felt as if we were lords of the manor for a few evenings!

Have you heard of the Irish pirate queen Grace O'Malley (Gráinne Ní Mháille)? While the story of her life seems like something from folklore, Grace O'Malley was a real person who came to power in the 16th century (more on her below!). She's a fascinating and inspiring figure that I've really enjoyed learning about over the last few years. When I saw that Celtic Fusion (a sustainable Irish brand) had a Grace O'Malley inspired blouse, I knew I needed it! Not only is it a fun nod to an amazing historic figure, but the pirate shirt is also very flattering and a perfect match for so many pieces in my wardrobe. I often find skirts and pinafore dresses that I like, but I struggle to find blouses to pair them with--so this piece is the perfect addition to my closet! I also love that Celtic Fusion's collections are inspired by Irish figures and legends because as you start browsing through their clothes you start learning a bit more about the history and culture of Ireland. They're also such a lovely brand because not only do they have strong ties to the past and history, but they also have eyes on the future: they make their clothes sustainably and plant native trees in Ireland. It always feels good to know your clothes are inspired by interesting people and stories, but that they're also being made ethically and helping Ireland today. You can use my code "aclotheshorse" to get 15% off your order at Celtic Fusion (and they have menswear pieces as well!). Grace O'Malley was born into a powerful seafaring family that controlled several castles and much of Western Ireland. Legend says when she was young she aspired to be a sailor but her family discouraged this because she was a girl. Rather than admitting defeat Grace shaved off her hair and disguised herself as a boy. Her father realizing her strength of will relented and allowed her to become a sailor and even had her formally educated. When he passed on she inherited his position, despite having brothers who would typically inherit, and became Queen of Umaill, chieftain of the Ó Máille clan. She was a fearless leader on land and sea and in battle. The facts of her life aren't only verified through Irish stories, but through English documents as well and she even met with Queen Elizabeth I. It's said she refused to bow before Queen Elizabeth because she didn't recognize her as the sovereign of Ireland and was a queen in her own right so saw them as equals. Rumor has it as well that despite wearing a fine gown to court to meet with Queen Elizabeth, a knife was found concealed on Grace when she was inspected by guards! There's so many fun stories surrounding Grace's life, some perhaps exaggerated by time, but we do have verification that she was a real person and fierce leader. This castle isn't one of the many she controlled in Ireland (but it is one of the closest seaside castles to my home), but I'm looking forward to visiting her stronghold one day--the tower castle that still stands on Clare Island. For my Grace O'Malley inspired look I started with Celtic Fusion's pirate queen blouse and paired it with one of my favorite linen skirts. The blouse has so many lovely details from the tie-up bodice, to the shape and knots of the sleeves, and the lace detailing throughout that it really doesn't need much to shine and works with a variety of different skirts and trousers. I also wore a worn leather belt and gold accessories to add to the pirate-y feeling and I thought the hoop earrings were especially necessary. With my jewellery I chose pieces with nautical themes; my shark jaw ring, a starfish, and then moon inspired pieces since the moon controls the tides. I also threw a load of braids and a tiny sword into my hair, although those details became harder to discern since it was so windy and my hair was blowing every which way! Boots would probably have been a more practical choice for a pirate and myself walking along the shore, but the weather was so lovely I just grabbed a basic pair of flats. I feel like it came together as a very wearable every day outfit, but with a lot of details and subtle nods to Grace if you look closely. P.S. Don't forget to use my code "aclotheshorse" for 15% off your order at Celtic Fusion!

Did you know there are castles you can stay in when you visit Ireland? There are massive castle hotels and miniature castle B&Bs, but perhaps the most unique and fun experience is to be had by renting your own private castle for a night or two--as you can do at the Black Castle in County Tipperary. The Black Castle is a 500 year old castle tower built by the O'Kennedy clan. When you book a night at the Black Castle you have the entire castle and property to yourself; we had the privilege of staying here back in early December and it was such a memorable experience. Walking through the door and into the tower is like stepping back in time; at night the stars are startling bright and the only noise is that of the nature (birdsong in the morning and wind in the evening). You aren't completely cut off from the modern world in the Black Castle, although most of the castle has been left without electricity to give you a more authentic experience. There is a kitchen and bathroom on one level that boasts electric lights and a cooker so you can prepare your own meals and spend as much time inside the castle as possible. The other main level at the castle is the Great Hall, a large room with towering curved ceiling, little window nooks, a fireplace big enough to stand inside, and hundreds of candles. Between the candles and ample firewood provided you're not left in the dark in the castle even without electricity in the Great Hall. The flickering candlelight and dancing flames add to the magical atmosphere within the Hall. The owners and renovators, Kevin and Sonja (and Tilly), have done a marvelous job of renovating and decorating the castle to maintain an authentic atmosphere. Every furnishing feels thoughtfully collected and adds to the ambiance of the tower; from the mead left in a pitcher on the table to the antique candle holders and wooden benches.Despite visiting in Decemeber during one of the coldest weekends (the wind howled the first night we stayed and the ground was hard with frost the next morning) we had the most enchanting stay at Black Castle. It's the sort of place I have been dreaming of visiting for several years and feel so privileged to have experienced it. We cooked little one pot meals in the kitchen and carried our steaming plates of pasta and sourdough bread upstairs to the Great Hall to dine like kings beside the roaring fire. The evenings were marked by blue light streaming through the stained glass windows, candlelight, and books. On our last morning we were even treated to a blanket of fog. As we drove away Thomas looked for a place to take a distant picture of the castle tower, but the fog was so thick that only a short distance away the castle vanished as if the whole weekend had been a dream rather than a rare but striking memory.